Rodgers backs down in Mourinho row

Jose Mourinho has revealed that Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers called him to congratulate him on Chelsea's 2-0 victory at Anfield on Sunday.

Chelsea's approach provoked much comment, not least from Rodgers himself, who claimed the Blues "parked two buses" and described the defensive style as "easy to coach".

Mourinho revealed, however, that the Liverpool manager had effectively taken back his criticism. "Brendan is a manager and is somebody I consider my friend," he said. "I met him a long time ago when he was a very young coach, coaching kids, and I consider him a friend.

"Of course I know his words after the match, but I also know his words today, and today he told me congratulations for a great victory and a great performance.

"So, especially because I consider him a friend and someone I like, I prefer to forget the words after the match and I keep today's word. He's an intelligent guy. He watched the match for sure on video and, now, I think he understood what happened."

Speaking on Tuesday, Rodgers appeared to have got over the title bid blow on Sunday which prompted the Mourinho row.

"We might not have got the result against Chelsea, but you have seen over the course of the season we have made great strides and we will continue to," Rodgers said.

"At the start of the season, people saw it was a real challenge for us to be in the top four. So with two games to go to be in the top three, really, really challenging, it's something that is really remarkable.

"It's good to be involved in this, and it's the only way you gain experience. No matter where we finish, we will look to build on it, and press on from this position.

"It's not the end of the world if we don't win it this season. We will go again and progress from here, but we are enjoying this position.

"We want to win, of course, and we are in a brilliant position. But we must enjoy it - this is brilliant, the supporters are loving it, we are showing the real scale of the club and what these players are about, and that is just as important.

"We have a way of working and I take pride in that. We might not have got the result against Chelsea, but you have seen over the course of the season we have made great strides and we will continue to.

"At the start of the season, people saw it was a real challenge for us to be in the top four. So with two games to go to be in the top three, really, really challenging, it's something that is really remarkable.

"But I'm not surprised, because of how we have worked and level the players have performed at. The games we won on our unbeaten run were exceptional, we were outstanding, and I have reminded them of that."